The World of Särestöniemi – Emotion, Colors and the Embrace of Nature
Step into a world where colors sing, nature breathes, and emotions flow like the spring floods of Lapland’s rivers.
This year, we celebrate the centenary of Reidar Särestöniemi (1925–1981), whose artistic legacy shines brighter than ever! Reidar didn’t just paint landscapes – he tasted them, felt them, lived them with every fiber of his being.
Colors That Ignite the Soul
In Reidar’s world, colors were not just shades – they were power, emotion, and the glow of life.
“Colors trigger the human spirit,” he once said, and you can feel it in every brushstroke of his paintings. Vibrant oranges, deep purples, and snowy white landscapes tell the story of the North, where the sun doesn’t always rise, but when it does, the world bursts into flames.
Through color, Reidar built a bridge between nature and emotion – in his works, every hue pulses with life, inviting the viewer into the experience.
Nature and the Artist’s Soul Intertwined
Särestöniemi didn’t just observe nature – he was part of it. He depicted himself as a bear resting in the snow, a salmon flowing with the river, a wolf standing firm in the frost.
“Reidar painted nature as interpreted through his inner vision,” notes the museum director Anne Koskamo. He lived in harmony with the rhythm of Lapland’s wilderness, allowing it to flow directly onto his canvas.
His landscapes are not just visual moments but deep, living experiences – like grounded dreams where human and nature breathe as one.
Särestöniemi Museum – A Place Where Time Stands Still
Deep in the heart of Lapland, in Kittilä, stands a place where Reidar’s presence can still be felt. The Särestöniemi Museum breathes his life: the old log house, the modern atelier, the untouched river, the fells on the horizon. Here, silence speaks, and the wind whispers stories from the artist’s past.
The museum’s atmosphere is profound – as if stepping directly into one of his paintings, where nature is not just a backdrop but a mirror to the soul.
Imagine yourself standing in Reidar’s studio, bathed in the piercing Lapland light. Summer birds sing, the winter frost tingles your skin, the roar of spring floods merges with your thoughts. This is a place where you don’t just see art – you feel it.
“Despite everything, success came when he stayed here,” the museum director reminds us.
Reidar did not flee the depopulating Lapland of the 1960s – he embraced it and made it the core of his art.
An Experience That Stays With You
Reidar also loved people, conversations, visitors, authentic encounters.
“Connecting with people was very important to him,” says the museum director. This is what he wanted to convey through his art: to touch, to move, to pause time, and to transport the viewer into another world. Those who stand before his paintings are not just observers – they become part of the piece, part of the emotion, part of the colors.
The Särestöniemi Museum is not just an exhibition; it is an experience. It is a journey to another time, place, and state of mind. The centenary year of 2025 invites you to witness it all with your own senses. Step into the embrace of colors, nature, and emotions – come and discover Reidar’s world.
For more information and events, visit the Särestöniemi Museum website. Welcome to the magic of Lapland!
Reidar 100 Anniversary Year at the Särestöniemi Museum
Until May 27, 2025, the anniversary exhibition "Thus the Bear Dog Awakens to Spring" - Works by Reidar from the 1960s.
Starting June 6, 2025, the anniversary exhibition "The Gufitar Man Looked Straight Into My Soul" - Works by Reidar from the 1970s.
